Whiffletree clip and hook.



No. 778,968. PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905.

T. F. GUPFIN..

WHIFFLETREE CLIP AND HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15, 1904.

IINirn STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

ArnNr rricn.

THOMAS F. GUFFIN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO THOMASHILLGROVE AND JOHN G. OCONNELL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

WHIFFLETREE CLIP AND HOOK- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 778,963, dated January 3, 1905.

Application filed August 15, 1904:. Serial No. 220,812.

To all 11/72/0771, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs F. GUFFIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented a certain new and useful VVhiffletree Clip and Hook, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to Whiiiietree-hooks, by which is meant eitherthe hooks at the ends of a swingletree for attachment of the traces orthe center hook of a doubletree or swingletree for connecting to aplow-clevis, tongue, other whiiiietree, or the like.

The invention comprises a clip for permanent attachment to thewhifiletree and a hook detachably pivoted thereto.

By means of the improvements herein described the following objects andadvantages are attained: First, the hook is readily attachable anddetachable without the necessity of removing the clip, while at the sametime loose contrivances are avoided and the hook is prevented fromaccidental detachment; second, perfect swivel motion of the hook isallowed, while the friction and rattling accompanying a loose-fittingdevice is avoided; third, a trace or chain-link may be convenientlyengaged or withdrawn over the hook, while it is insured against slippingoff accidentally in use.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 shows a whifiietree provided at the middle and ends with clipsand hooks embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of one of theend clips with the hook in pulling position. Fig. 3 is a front view ofthe same clip with the hook in position for detachment. Fig. 4C is aside view of the middle clip with the hook in position for detachmentand with dotted lines indicating the hook out of such position. Fig. 5is a top View of the same clip with the hook in pulling position. Fig. 6is a side view of the same clip with the hook detached.

The only substantial difference between the devices shown in Figs. 2, 3and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 is that in the former the pintle of the hook is atright angles to the axis of the whiflietree and the lug therefor on theclip parallel with said axis, while in the latter the pintle of the hookis parallel with the axis of the whiflletree and the lug on the clip atright angles to said axis. The former device is shown at the middle ofthe whiflletree in Fig. 1, while devices of the latter character arerepresented at the ends, though this arrangement is not essential, butis principally to disclose different embodiments of the invention. Hencethe following brief description will answer for both devices, using thesame reference-symbols to designate corresponding parts.

The letter A denotes a clip adapted for permanent attachment to thewhiflietree, having an apertured lug B to receive the pintle of the hookC. The clip is shown as an integral ring adapted to be shrunk on thewhifiietree; but it may be of any appropriate construction and bolted orotherwise secured in place. The pintle extends, preferably, at rightangles from the shank of the hook and has at its end an eccentric heador pointed projection D, by means of which the pintle is prevented fromdropping out accidentally. The pintle turns freely in the apertured lugB, which is embraced between the shank of the hook and the head orprojection D of the pintle, so that a perfect swivel motion is allowedWithout the rattling and friction accompanying loose-fittingcontrivances. The aperture in the lug B is substantially the shape ofthe head D or is substantially circular, with the exception of alongitudinal V-groove to permit passage of the pointed projection ofsaid head. The projection of the head and the V- groove are so relatedthat when the hook is in place there is no liability or possibility ofthe pintle accidentally coming out by ordinary movements of the hook;but in order to have the head register with the aperture it is necessaryto turn the hook back next to the clip out of working position, as inFig. A, for example, or at the right-hand end of Fig. 1. The hook mayreadily be attached and detached in this way without removing the clip.In case of breakage of a hook it can easily be withdrawn and replaced byanother with very little trouble or loss of time. At the righthand endof Fig. 1 the hook is shown in position for detachment, while at theleft-hand end the hook is shown in position for pulling. The hooks atboth ends are shown having the projections D of the pintlessubstantially in line with the hooks, while the V-grooves along theapertures in lugs B are in such position that the books have to beturned outward nearly a half-turn in order to detach them.

In Figs. 4:, 5, and 6the projectionDeXtends at right angles from thehooks, and the V- groove is disposed so as to necessitate a similar turnof the hook for detachment. It is obvious that the hooks cannot turn todetaching position during driving of the team, since the traces willhold them in working position. A notch E is shown cut in the shank B,practically opposite the V-groove of the aperture. This notch provides aconvenient means for permitting a trace or chain-link to be slipped onor oil? the hook when in position such as illustrated in dotted lines inFig. 4; but when the hook is held in position for pulling the lug B willprevent the trace or chain-link from slipping 011' by accident.

Iclaim as myinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States 1. A whiffletree clip and. hook, wherein the hook has ,astraight shank with a pintle extending at right angles therefrom havinga head with a lateral offset, while the clip has a fiat lug projectingtherefrom having an aperture for said pintle shaped to register with itshead and thus permit insertion and withdrawal of said pintle when thehook is turned back out of pulling relation to said clip, the pintlebeing retained in place in said aperture when the hook is in pullingposition by its shank and offset on the pintle which embrace the saidlug of the clip between them.

2. A whiiiletree clip and hook, wherein the shank of the hook has apintle swiveled in an apertured lug on the clipand has a lateral offsetretaining it in place when the hook is in pulling position butregistering With'the aperture which is of corresponding shape to permitinsertion and withdrawal of the pintle when the hook is turned out ofpulling position, the said lug having also a lateral edge notch whichpermits a trace or chain-link otherwise too large to slip over the hookto be slipped on or off the hook when it is turned out of pullingposition with its point opposite said notch.

' 3. A whiflietree clip and hook, wherein the book has a pintle swiveledin an apertured lug on said clip and has its point turned back nearly tothe edge of said lug, while the lug has a lateral notch to permit atrace or chainlink to be slipped over the hook when turned out ofpulling position with its point opposite said notch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOS. F; GUFFIN.

Witnesses:

ALBERT D. SHooKLEY, CLARENCE BUNK.

